Leimert Park

Jan 20 2011

Martin Luther King Day Parade

Westchester High School was among the many schools, community bands and drill teams that participated in the annual Los Angeles Martin Luther King Day Parade held Monday. Following the parade, organizers featured a festival in Leimert Park.

Dec 27 2010

Seven day celebration

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—A parade was held along Crenshaw Boulevard today to mark the start of the seven-day African American festival of Kwanzaa.

The parade began at noon at Crenshaw and Adams boulevards, then headed to Leimert Park, where a festival was held that included musical and spoken word entertainment.

President Barack Obama and his wife released a statement expressing well wishes.

"Michelle and I extend our warmest thoughts and wishes to all those who are celebrating Kwanzaa this holiday season,'' he said.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Dec 23 2010

Kwanzaa principle a potential solution

Sky-high unemployment, disproportional incarceration rates, too much involvement in the criminal justice system and the resulting inability to find gainful employment; a poverty rate of more than 25 percent–these are just some of the economic realities that stare African Americans starkly in the face.
As the Christmas holiday season continues and those who celebrate Kwanzaa prepare their activities, there is probably no better time for Black people to take at look at their collective economic situation. The picture is not pretty.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Dec 23 2010

Health, education, economic development top concerns

After four years as a state legislator and at the beginning of his first full term as a state senator, Inglewood politician Curren Price was unanimously elected chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and among his top priorities for his two-year term are first to monitor all the legislation that comes before the state government for its impact on African Americans. Then the eight-member body will place special emphasis on health, education and economic development.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Nov 11 2010

Organization prepares teens for higher education

 Jack and Jill of America Inc. is a non-profit organization that was founded by 20 African American mothers in Philadelphia in 1938. The purpose of the group was to encourage their children–especially those in racially isolated environments–to interact with each other and prepare to be leaders.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”